Jinger Duggar Vuolo finally feels free to be her most authentic self.
While growing up on TLC's 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On, the 29-year-old was convinced that obeying her family's rules and traditions from the Institute in Basic Life Principles was the secret to a good life. But as she recounts in her new book Becoming Free Indeed, Jinger went on a "disentangling journey" from those practices that wouldn't have been possible without her husband Jeremy Vuolo.
"Jeremy has been so kind throughout this entire process," she told E! News in an exclusive interview. "He's been so patient with me because I know it must be so hard for him to see these wrestling's. There are long days where it's just emotionally taxing and hard and he has only been there to support me, to help me, to cheer me on."
When she was first courted by Jeremy—who is also a Christian with a reformed-Baptist pastor father, but not a member of IBLP—in 2016, Jinger said she was always concerned about being agreeable with her boyfriend and not having her own opinion.
"I wouldn't really think for myself," she said. "I would just think, ‘What's the right answer?' or ‘What do I think I should say to him right now?'"
But after spending more time with the former professional soccer player, Jinger learned she could be anything she wants.
"Jeremy just encouraged me to not be someone I'm not, but just to be myself and feel comfortable and share my own opinions and have opinions on life," she said. "I thought I had to be this agreeable wife. That way I would be safe."
In November 2016, Jinger and Jeremy exchanged vows and the couple are now parents to daughters Felicity, 4, and Evangeline, 2.
In another major life change, Jinger said goodbye to her parent's hometown in Arkansas—where she and her 18 siblings grew up—and now lives in Los Angeles where she is considering putting her kids in public school.
"We have an awesome community around us, really good, solid friends that we love to hang out with," she explained. "I think it's crazy how many amazing schools there are here. We haven't decided yet what we're going to do for Felicity. I don't think I want to homeschool her through."
And while Jinger's childhood may have been documented for millions of viewers to see, she has decided to take a different approach with her own daughters.
"We felt really strongly about giving our kids privacy and allowing them to choose if they wanted to be in the public eye or not," she shared. "We'll see what they choose. For now, we're just protecting their privacy until they can choose what they want to do."
For more candid confessions from Jinger and her new book Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear, keep scrolling.
We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like them at these prices. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may get a commission if you purchase something through our links. Items are sold by the retailer, not E!. Prices are accurate as of publish time.
Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear by Jinger Duggar Vuolo
For revelations from Jinger, check out her book.